Cleveland, OH – On May 20, 2005, four-time NASCAR Champion Jeff Gordon announced he is opening a driving school designed to provide the most exciting and entertaining experience in the motorsports world. "The NASCAR experience has always been exhilarating for me," said Gordon, driver of the #24 Dupont Chevrolet. "It has been the most exciting part of my life and I want the fans to be able to experience the thrill of speed the same way I do."

The school will begin operations in August at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina and will expand to multiple NASCAR speedways in 2006. The racing school cars will be authentic cars actually raced by top NASCAR drivers. Many of the cars have been raced to Victory Lane by drivers such as Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and others at the wheel.

As a proud partner of the Mario Andretti Racing School, Cleveland-based Lincoln Electric Company will partner with the Jeff Gordon Racing School in supplying welding and cutting equipment, technical training and welding application support. "We are extremely excited to align our brand with two of the biggest names in racing and I am confident we will make a formidable team." said Phillip Fulgenzi, Director of Motorsports Marketing for Lincoln Electric.

Robert Lutz is President and CEO of Driving 101, the parent company of both – Jeff Gordon Racing School and Mario Andretti Racing School based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is founder of the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Lutz is a seasoned veteran in operating the top racing schools in America "Jeff Gordon Racing School is very proud to be associated with Lincoln Electric. We share in their commitment to excellence and providing customers with the best products in the industry. Lincoln Electric products are vital to our daily operations and consistently exceed our expectations for quality, durability and functionality. Jeff Gordon Racing School is honored to join with Lincoln Electric as they celebrate their 110th year as the worldwide leader in welding and cutting products".

Mario Andretti, who opened his Indy-style racing school in 2004, was at Lowe’s Motor Speedway for the Jeff Gordon Racing School announcement. "In 2006, fans will be able to drive Indy-style race cars and NASCAR race cars on the same day," said Andretti. "The Jeff Gordon Racing School and the Mario Andretti Racing School will operate under the same umbrella and will offer the ultimate driving experience. This combined format will provide an unparalleled opportunity for race enthusiasts - the chance to drive the two most popular racing cars in the United States."

Jeff Gordon Racing School was designed to offer the most realistic and exhilarating racing school based on the winning experiences of NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon. The schools are set in a thrilling racing environment on an actual Superspeedway, using authentic Nextel Cup Cars. The combination of four-time NASCAR Champion Jeff Gordon, world champion Mario Andretti and the founder of the driving experience industry, Robert Lutz, ensures this school is destined for success.

Anyone 18 years old with a driver’s license can drive at the Jeff Gordon Racing School. For more information or to make reservations, call (877) 4-Jeff-24, or visit andrettigordon.com.